FINGAL, EDGE OF DUBLIN

In Ireland, Local Authorities are responsible for both democratic representation and public administration.

Fingal is the Irelands fastest growing county. It occupies a land area of 452.7 sq kms, has an active population of 273,051 in 2011 (CSO data) with 6% of the Ireland’s total population it is the third largest County in population size in Ireland.

Fingal County Council Mission Statement is to ’improve the quality of life of our citizens and communities by developing our county and strengthening the region through sustainable economic growth’.

Fingal’s first citizen is the Mayor who is elected by his or her fellow Councillors. The Current Mayor is Cllr. Kieran Dennison. The Fingal (acting) County Manager is Mr. Peter Caulfield, former head of Human Resources, Corporate Affairs and IT. Peter has a strong interest in international trade and development and has led a number of delegations to Europe and Asia.

Fingal’s largest towns are Balbriggan (pop. 25,000), Swords (pop. 42,000) and Blanchardstown (pop. 100,000) that provide important commercial, education, industrial, retail and residential areas. Fingal also has a network of picturesque coastal and rural towns and villages, including Howth, Sutton, Baldoyle, Portmarnock, Malahide, Donabate, Rush, Lusk, Skerries, Balbriggan.

Fingal is home to a diverse range of large multinationals and progressive, medium to large Irish corporates including: Abbott, Alcatel Lucent, Alcan, Arvarto, Ardmac, Aer Lingus, Aramex, Astellas, ARI, AMD, ASL Aviation, Bostik, Bayer, Bridgestone, BMS, Bewleys, Ceva, Creative Labs, Coca Cola, Dublin Aerospace, DAA, Dalkia, Digiweb Group/ Viatel, DHL, Dimpco, Doosan, E-bay, Energia, FAS, Ferrovial, Fujitsu Ireland, Georgia Pacific, Glen Dimplex/Dimpco, Greencore , The Hartford, Helsinn Group, Hertz, IBM, Huntstown Power, IDA Ireland, Ingersoll Rand, Kellogg’s, Kingston, Liberty Mutual, Mylan/Gerard Laboratories, Mallinckrodt, McDonalds, Noonan, Organon/ MSD, NSR, PayPal, Rotapharm, Ryanair, SanDisk, Swords Labs, Symantec, Synopsys, Siemens, Techcrete, Teredata, Tesco, Tyco, Tynagh Energy, UPS, Viridian, Xerox, Wavin.

It is also a base for strong start-up and emerging businesses, export and logistics companies. Large retail centre’s include the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre in Dublin 15; IKEA at Ballymun/Santry, The Pavilions, Swords; and The Millfield Centre, Balbriggan.

Air and surface transport inc. logistics, fulfillment, international services inc. financial services, hotels / tourism are also prominent year-round employers in Fingal.

The area has recently opened up Food Central at St. Margaret’s, near Dublin Airport, see www.foodcentral.com home to 1,000 specialist food staff servicing international and domestic food markets. Keelings, Donnelly’s and Breaks are successful family businesses anchored in the food park.

Fingal also offers a wide range of enterprise supports in partnership with Fingal Local Enterprise Office (LEO) and these can be reviewed and accessed via www.fingalworks.ie

Dublin Airport is Fingal’s largest single economic entity, directly employing 12,000 people, and is of major national and International significance due to its employment base, passenger throughput and networked airfreight services. 19.1 million passengers passed through the airport in 2012. See www.daa.ie

Fingal’s industrial base includes aviation, IT, cleantech, computer software and hardware, transport, logistics, public services, pharmaceuticals, retail, food processing, electrical/electronics, tourism, crafts and professional services. Fingal is also Ireland’s primary horticultural production region. Howth harbour is the biggest fishing harbour on the East Coast of Ireland. Malahide is a bustling award winning Castle estate town, a sports haven and a former winner of the European ‘Entente Florale’ tidy town and village winner.

• Part of the Greater Dublin City Region;
• Population: 273,051 (2011) – increase of 22% between 2002 – 2006;
• 450 km² (173 square miles);
• 16 km to Dublin City Centre, Fingal borders with Dublin City, Meath and Louth;
  88km of coastline;
• Major sports location for golf (parkland and links courses), soccer, gaelic games, cricket, sailing, water sports, cycling, walks and other summer pursuits;
• 3 protected estuaries, salt march habitats and thirteen major beaches and the River Liffey Valley;
• 8 Martello towers;
• Main business centres Blanchardstown, Swords and Balbriggan;
• Dublin Airport key employment hub;
• Important National primary road routes M1, M2, M3;
• 5,700 registered businesses in Fingal in 2013;
• Highest business start–up / formation rates in Ireland;
• Emerging location for established and 2nd and 3rd generation Family Businesses;
• Key sectors inc. Aviation, Transport, Logistics, Storage, Food & Beverage, Public sector, Retail, PharmaChem, Manufacturing, and Services, IT, Other;
• Member of The Green Way, Dublin’s emerging Cleantech Cluster Eco System see http://www.thegreenway.ie/
• Primary and Secondary Schools, Vocational, Community and Comprehensive Schools;
• The Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; Adjacent to Dublin City University, Trinity College, University College Dublin and a range of private sector colleges.

Fingal has a long tradition in European affairs and has extensive experience in partnering network members inc. applying and drawing down EU project funding. It is an active member of the European Edge City Networks since formation in 1997.

The following are the websites of existing bodies which Fingal are active members:

1. European Edge Cities Network
2. Les Rencontres http://www.lesrencontres.eu
3. International Federation of Housing and Planning (I.F.H.P.) www.ifhp.org
4. Airport Regions Conference (ARC) www.airportregions.org